Knicks Bulletin: ‘Very disappointed, to say the least’

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JANUARY 30: Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the New York Knicks reacts during the second quarter against the Portland Trail Blazers at Madison Square Garden on January 30, 2026 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ishika Samant/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Knicks are back in action today, hosting the Wolves at MSG this evening.

By chance, have you heard anything about contract issues and pending extensions? Yeah, me neither.

Here’s the latest from Coach, KAT, and a couple folks in the know.

the work continues pic.twitter.com/3eZdLbwtD4

— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) October 11, 2026

On what might help Pacome Dadiet earn more minutes:

“The first one is obviously he shoots it, and so he can’t be afraid to let it fly. He’s got to get his body set, whatever, right away, and as soon as that thing hits his hands, if he has any space at all, at 6-foot-7 or 6-foot-8, whatever he is — boom, let it fly. Have confidence in that.”

On what he sees in Dadiet:

“He’s one of the best cutters we have on the team, and so he’s got to, at his size, he’s got to cut to score. That gravity with his ability to shoot is going to get others open. Then the last thing I would say is he’s a pretty good offensive rebounder. He’s not a great athlete, but he’s a good athlete and he’s got pretty good feet. I expect him to be versatile and not get beat off the dribble.”

On discussing mindfulness and personal struggles with his players:

“As a coach, it’s not all about X’s and O’s every single day. Any time you can try to enlighten guys in different areas of life, not just about the basketball court, you try to do that. This is something I thought about doing because I discussed it with a few of my coaches maybe a week and a half, two weeks ago. It was just speaking on being mindful or having mindfulness when it comes to your teammates.”

On holding players accountable while recognizing their personal struggles:

“We have to hold each other accountable, but we also have to be mindful that you may have some s–t going on in your life that may not be good. So we can’t keep trying to beat you up to be better at your job. Sometimes, it’s trying to figure out how to do that while uplifting you because I don’t know what you’re going through at home in your private life.”

To put a bow on this, for now, Karl-Anthony Towns' public response to the Knicks' public statement regarding the front office tabling extension talks until later in the season:

"It was news to me. Very disappointed to say the least. Let's state the obvious. It's business, but…

— James L. Edwards III (@JLEdwardsIII) October 11, 2026

On learning that the Knicks had paused contract extension negotiations:

“It was news to me. Very disappointed, to say the least. Let’s state the obvious: It’s a business, but there is business on the court for us to handle.”

On his disappointment with the Knicks’ decision and his commitment to defending the championship:

“Obviously very disappointed, to say the least. Let’s be honest here. But even though there was no business done, there’s still business to be handled. After 53 years, we found a way to bring this trophy back to New York, and we intend for it to stay in New York.”

On whether he has considered declining his player option:

“I wouldn’t say I’ve thought about it, because I never thought it would get to this point. But I think right now what’s best for our team is we just focus on the basketball.”

On maintaining his focus on winning another championship despite contract uncertainty:

“We’re all humans, but what I do say is true: My only philosophy since we won and the only thing I’ve had in my mind is how do we win another one. For me, the same focus I came in this season with is the same focus I’ll go into Game 1 with: How do we keep the trophy in New York past just this one summer?”

On Mike Brown addressing the players’ personal struggles and bringing the team closer together:

“It was really cool to have Coach talk to us about being human, about the struggles in life. Us being together and us understanding where everyone is in life and the situations they deal with will allow us to be even more connected and allow us to be an even better team.

“I want to make sure I say that. I have to give flowers to Mike. That was an amazing job by him as our leader to approach the elephant in the room and to allow us, the players and the coaches, the ones who were on that court in Game 4, Game 5, who really found a way to get this title back to New York, to be human. I think that’s an amazing thing.”

On how he plans to earn more minutes:

“I feel like my path [to minutes] is just to keep working, keep talking to the guys. [Keep] learning from the guys and hopefully earn playing time with them.”

On his offseason work:

“I’m still focusing on the stuff you focus on in the first three years. Making shots, playing defense, playing with a high motor. So conditioning and watching a lot of film with the coaches, especially defensively.”

On the Knicks’ preseason form and results:

“I think you want to grow throughout the season. You don’t want to be at your best to start. You want to go through a season, have ups and downs, and then be at your best toward the end.”

"League sources tell The Stein Line that Karl-Anthony Towns was the only (extension-eligible Knick) whose camp had been seriously engaged by the Knicks" before Knicks shut down talks Friday…

More Stein Knicks & NBA updates ⬇️ https://t.co/jKn6Rmi6Oopic.twitter.com/9n7oMGBgw9

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) October 12, 2026

On the Knicks prioritizing contract negotiations with Karl-Anthony Towns:

“Towns was the only member of that foursome (Josh Hart, Deuce McBride, Tyler Kolek) whose camp had been seriously engaged by the Knicks at the time of Friday’s statement. (They’ve) prioritized talks with Towns over Hart to this point.”

On Miles McBride potentially becoming a trade candidate:

“A likely trade candidate as the season unfolds given the uncertainty surrounding his own Knicks future.”

The Commanders can't get the play off in time and this game ends in a tie pic.twitter.com/WmPp6q5hU0

— NFL (@NFL) October 11, 2026